Noah's ark
Category
Toys
Date
Unknown
Materials
Paint, Wood
Measurements
360 mm (H)630 mm (Length)170 mm (W)
Place of origin
Germany
Order this imageCollection
Snowshill Manor and Garden, Gloucestershire
NT 1338964
Summary
Model - German painted Noah's Ark with nine figures and 57 animals and birds, some damaged. two each of orange camels,grey elephants one with repair to trunk,white dogs with black spots (one has red collar),grey cats(one has no tail),orange leopards with black spots,black animals with bushy tails one damaged,brown ardvarks,antelopes(one lighter in colour,have a black stripe on back),cows one brown, one white with brown spots,brown rhino,grey horses(one has black mane and one has broken ear),grey sheep, brown buffalos,brown/grey wolves,yaks (black horns and stripe),orange deer (white breasts, one with missing ear),grey reindeer (one missing antlers),brown dogs with red collars,brown foxes(?),brown striped zebra,grey deer(?) short tails red collars,large deer brown and orange,grey deer(?)long ears,orange and white goats both missing ears,grey donkeys one missing an ear,pink pigs (one quite damaged),white dogs with orange spots and tails,faded brown antelopes (orange stripe down back, one missing horn),tigers orange with black stripe,grey jackals(long sloped beaks),grey animals with curved upright tail both missing an ear,orange seated monkeys with long noses one missing a leg, orange seated monkeys arms at front one with ear missing,black/brown monkeys arms at front,brown/green monkeys arms at front,one light brown weasel(other may be in dolls house),moles black with pink snout(one original one made by volunteer). Previously 9 figurines (look around manor) - red robed with yellow buttons and waistband male figure with black hat wooden beard and staff(H 90mm), red robed male figure with black floppy hat yellow buttons and waistband (missing an arm and a beard and feet) (H 85mm, blue robed male figure with yellow buttons and waistband and black hat wooden beard and staff(H 95mm), dark blue robed male figure with black floppy hat and fur beard yellow buttons and waistband (H 80mm), blue dressed female figure with white and black sqiggle decoration and red top hat (H 90mm). 'Mid 19th century wooden Noah's ark and animals from the Black Forest area in Germany. (M. Jessup) 'Then there was Noah's ark. How times have changed for Noah for then all animals, birds and insects were much of a muchness as to size, and humans resembled in form, turned painted bobbins. I lost all faith in Noah as a shipwright for his ark, when set upon the 'bath sea' fell on her beam ends, a veritable death trap and water poured through the uncalked seams. Nor was his paint waterproof.' (Charles Wade, cited by M. Jessup). Animals previously associated with inventory number SNO.TY.4607. In notebook no.5, page 56 (1340945.5) Charles Wade refers to: 'Seventh Heaven no.196 Noah's Ark with Noah Family and large number of Animals & Birds.' Includes sketch. In Haphazard Notes Volume One (SNO.MISC.952.1) Charles Wade refers to the Noah's Ark when reminiscing on his childhood Christmas'. "Then there was NOAHS ARK. How things have changed since the Days of Noah! for then all animals, birds and insects, were ‘much of a muchness’ as to size, and humans resembled in form, turned painted bobins (sic) or balusters. The Noah family lived a terribly overcrowded life, all mixed up with their animals – sometimes it took a long search to find Mrs. Noah, who would eventually be discovered wedged tight beneath the Elephant and Giraffe – entangled with the Dromedary (camel), the Hare & the Dove – or the Dormouse. I lost faith in Noah as a shipwright, for his Ark, when sat upon the BATH SEA fell on her ‘beam ends’ – a very death trap, and water poured through the uncaulked (sic) seams, nor was the paint waterproof. (page 6-7)
Provenance
part of Charles Paget Wade collection bequeathed to the National Trust with Snowshill Manor Given to the National Trust with Snowshill Manor in 1951 by Charles Paget Wade.
References
Wade, 1944: Charles Paget Wade, Contents of Snowshill Manor. Volume 5 Second Floor, 1944, Page 56